Rotary Club hears about criminal justice reform

For the Daily News

Published
2:02 am EDT, Thursday, September 27, 2018

Jarrett Skorup, director of marketing and communications at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, recently presented at the Midland Noon Rotary Club about criminal justice reform issues affecting the state.

The talk centered on seven topics: overcriminalization, occupational licensing of those with a criminal background, expunging a criminal record, civil asset forfeiture, reform of the bail system, raising the age for when people are changed as adults and collateral consequences.

Overcriminalization focused on the number of laws on the books in Michigan, which is much greater than in other states in the Midwest. Occupational licensing discussed the nearly 200 occupations that restrict people with a criminal background from finding work. Expungement talked about how long a criminal offense stays on someone's record. Civil asset forfeiture was about the process of when government takes ownership of a person's money and property, sometimes without even charging them with a crime. Reforming the bail system discussed the myriad of ways local jails charge for time spent locked up and products and potential changes. Collateral consequences referred to what the government and private groups can do when people come out of prison to help re-integrate them back into the community.